No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.-- Eleanor Roosevelt

Thursday, March 27, 1997

Shortcuts

Have you ever seen a car stuck in the grassy median of the freeway? Usually this was someone who wanted to turn around, but was in too much of a hurry to go all the way to the next exit. So he decided to take a “shortcut” through the middle, and got stuck in the mud or the ditch. Then, instead of spending an extra 5 minutes to go to the next exit and turn around, he must spend a few hours getting a tow truck to pull the car out.

Think about that the next time you’re tempted to take a shortcut in your work, your relationships, your health, or anywhere else. The quick and easy way out often has a tremendous downside.

The value you get from life is equal to the effort you put in. In the end, searching for shortcuts usually takes more time and energy than just doing the work in the first place.

You simply cannot get something for nothing. Because whatever you get for nothing, regardless of its “market value", means nothing to you.